Gotye’s Obscure Sample Costs Him $1 Million

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It was not only Gotye’s most popular song ever, but “Somebody that I Used To Know” was the best-selling Australian single of all time and still remains on the Aussie charts one year later. The GRAMMY-winning track put him, along with featured vocalist Kimbra, on the world stage, claiming chart positions in a whopping 32 countries.

But what may come has a surprise to many, is that “Somebody that I Used To Know” was formed around an obscure guitar riff from an artist only the hippest of jazz-loving parents will know. Gotye sampled a portion of Luiz Bonfa’s 1967 song “Seville,” which can be heard here.

A Brazilian classical guitarist who died nearly decade ago, Bonfa was generously given a co-writing credit by Gotye on the song. He is also said to have inspired the song’s first few lyrics.

Gotye, who could not have predicted the song’s runaway success, inked early deal awarding 45 percent of the song’s royalties to Bofa’s estate, according to Australia’s Courier Mail.